Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-28
letter from Kansas.

Eetier from Kansas.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria GAZETTE
Topeka Kan, Oct 23d.-Well do I re
member whe@ boy reading with much in
terest the account Of Lewis ana Clark's ex-
| pedition, fitted cut at the expense of the
US. government, tc explore the country
bordering on theupper Missouri, Mississippi,
and Kansas rivers to the Rocky Mountains,
which, up to that date, and for long time
after, was not inhabited by the white man.
| 10 their report they described the vast prai.
rie lands of the west, of which this State is
almost entirely composed, es nearly desti
tute of timber and vegetation, except the
wild buffalo grass and the cactus; and much
| like the Sahara or great desert of Africa,
and in their opinion would never be of much
value to auy one. As late az 1912, when
Col. Jno. c. Fremont made his expedition
through this country and crossed the Kan
sas river, it is supposed near the present site
OF the capital of this State, Topeka, it was
| almost as little known by the white man as
when Lewis and Clark made their expedi.
ton. And later still, we find in George
/! Walters history Of Kansas, written about
the year 1858, that it was then inhabited al
most entirely by Indians. About this time
the changes began. In one year after 1854,
| it was estimated that five thousand whites
had located in the State and in this year, on
tie 22d of May, 1854, q bill was passed by
the House of Representatives Of the United
States, giving authority to organize the ter
ritory OF Kansas. Il is wonderful and sur
prising 10 witness the changes that have
taken place since, and how rapidly the ter
ritory filed up after being organized, and
more rapidly afie: Kansas was admitted as
| State into the union. My first visit was
made ia this State in 1873 at which time
but q small portion OF the State was settled;
where the buffalo the deer and the prairie
dog, wero almost the sole inhabitants now
| find fourishing towns and cities many of
them with greater population than our
own city The lands are now well improved
and divided into farms and instead of the
mud hut and dug.cut haOitation for man
and beast, / find handsome farm residences
and substantial and convenient outbuidings,
and the farms are under high state of cul-
tivalion. 1t would surprise our Virginia
| farmers to see whst crops are produced on
/ the prairie farms. The citizens claim that this
State is country "beloved by heaven DER
all the world besides q country Of unsur-
pussed richness and fertility"
The FIRST newspaper published in the State
find in the history of Kansas, was edited
by Virginian, DR.. J. Il. Stringfellow from
Culpeper county. 1t WAS published at
Atchison, the. first issue appearing November
9Th. 1885. 1t was democratic and pro slavery
in politics.
DIR. j. II. Striugfelow was the first Speak
er of the House of Delegates of Kansas,
which convened July 1, 1856. and which was
composed of Virginians, S Kentuckians, 4
Marylanders, 4 Missourians, 2 from Tennes-
see, from South Carolina, from Kentucky,
. from Ohio, 2 from Pennsylvania, and from
New York, all pro slavery members but one
from Ohio, and hesoon resigned. The Sen
ale consisted of S members from Kentucky,
4 from Virginia, 2 from Louisiana, l from
Ohio, from Maryland, and l from New
York, it was also presided over by Viz
ginnr. AS it might be interesting to some
of your readers to know the names
of the Virginia members of the first Legisls,
lure of Kansas, l will give them: l.
johnson president and II. I. Strickler, A.
Mcdonald c. B. Whitehead members of the
Senate DR.. J. FL. Stringfellow. president; !;
Rev. J. T. Perry, chaplain ]. 7. 3. Crom
well, sergeant alarms Jonah Weddill, w.
II. Tsnbs, z. [. Marshall, w. 4. Reiske!l,
aud Dr. l. B, Harris, Of Virginia, members
OF the House. / have given you brlet ac.
4
propose TO call your attention to the great
changes that have referred to as having
taken place since its organization in 1850.
The State statistics show that they have a
T population Of one and a hall million, Sc or
ganized counties, 100000 acres of land,
l 600 900 acres of homestead land, 27 100000
taxable acres of net value of S554, 4,OOOOO0,
more than one fifth OF the whole number OF
acres DOW under cultivation, and produced
last year farm products valued at S73S, ,OOO,-
000 consisting of Sill 600 0G0 of fine stock,
194 600, 600 bushels of corn, 100000 horses
, and mules, 2,0000 600 cattle, 100000 hogs,
100000 sheep, &c., &c. They have 6Sl
newspapers and periodicals published in the
State, 90 of which are daily, 81, $50, COO State
school fund, 1000 school houses, 5000 school
teachers, 1000 manufacturing establish.
ments, $500 churches, 100000 miles OF tele.
graph wire, 500 miles of railway and GOO
miles now under contract. $50 towns with
over 500 population, - C les vas over 1000
population. The above are some OF the
leading items of interest l have copied
. from the statistics, and are sufficient to
f show the rapid progress the Sts,e
has made. l. is claimed that there i
smaller per cent. of her population who
can neither read ror write than apv other
State in the union. About twenty per cent
of the population are now native born.
had the pleasure of meeting with and being
introduced to lady at a wedding party
who is the first white female child known
10 have been born in this State, and she
looks young and handsome yet. l make
! this statement to give your readers an ides
, of the rapid progress the State has made
Illinois, Ohio and Indiana take the lead IL
: supplying population. Then comes Mis-
souri,, Pennsylvanis, Iowa, New YORK, Ken